the ruse

She's beauty, style, poise and grace, At least she appears to be. But no one knows the girl who hides Behind the face they see. Her self-esteem is all but gone, Of her ego there's barely a trace. There's so much pain behind the mask She wears upon her face. Depression has controlled her life With far too many tears. Her smile is fake; she's good at it; She's been doing it for years. The cover is what attracts us To the story within the book. And she's afraid that without the ruse, No one would bother to look.